Deck Z - Book Review

Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead.
by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon

What is it about:
Imagine being trapped aboard the doomed Titanic on an icy Atlantic. . . with the walking dead.

This fast-paced thriller reimagines the historical events of the fateful Titanic voyage through the lens of zombie mayhem. Captain Edward Smith and his inner circle desperately try to contain a weaponized zombie virus smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with an exploding population of lumbering, flesh-hungry undead, Smith's team is forced into bloody hand-to-hand combat down the narrow halls of the huge steamer.

In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg. A creepy, tense page-turner, Deck Z will thrill zombie fans and Titanic buffs alike.

What did I think of it:
Zombies and The Titanic!

I will confess I both wanted to read this book, and feared it. Especially after reading Carpathia (The Carpathia and vampires) by Matt Forbeck and not being able to finish it, because it annoyed me too much.

But zombies do have a way of luring me in, so I gave Deck Z a try.

And this book is awesome!

From the start I was gripped by the story and eager to find out how Pauls and Solomon would mix history with zombies. The story doesn't start on the Titanic, but leads up to it. I was fearing that once the Titanic would enter the story I would be disappointed by how it would be used.

But I had nothing to fear. Pauls and Solomon use the Titanic in such a way that even with all my knowledge of the Titanic I didn't get annoyed by their bending of the actual facts.

There's just enough historical facts to get the sense of the Titanic, and more than enough cool zombie mayhem to keep this piggy entertained. I loved how Pauls and Solomon turn Captain Smith into a zombie-slaying hero, assisted by Thomas Andrews. Once the mayhem really got going I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

The one point of critique I have is the portrayal of Bruce Ismay. As ever he's the scapegoat, and only because he survived the sinking. I can advice anyone to pick up Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived by Andrew Wilson for a more nuanced view on Ismay.

But that little point of critique aside: Deck Z is a great read that I can advice to anyone who likes an action-packed story with lots of zombie mayhem.

Why should you read it:
Zombie Mayhem on the Titanic!

Titanic: 7 Days That Shocked the World - Book Review

Titanic: 7 Days That Shocked the World
by Stephen Hines

What is it about:
News of the Titanic's catastrophic sinking, days after her maiden voyage, shocked the world. The public was frantic for information and answers, and the London Daily Telegraph, the largest circulating newspaper in the world at the time, was charged with the task of relaying what exactly had happened to the luxury liner. But with false reports abounding and no access to survivors, that task was easier said than done.

Read how a paper, and the world, struggled to find and report the truth of the most disastrous maritime accident in history.

What did I think of it:
This is a really good read.

This book contains the newspaper articles the London Daily Telegraph posted about the sinking of the Titanic. It starts with messages like 'No Lives Were Lost', but slowly the real news trickles in and the tone of the articles changes.

It's strange to realize how much the world has changed in just a little over a 100 years. Back in 1912 it was difficult to get news fast. The London Daily Telegraph, eager to bring her readers news, jumps to conclusions and follows false leads. It's fascinating to read how in just seven days the news stories they print change. How after the first shock they start looking for explantions and someone to blame.

All in all this is a very interesting read, that gave me a new insight on how the world experienced the sinking of the Titanic. It will get its place in my collection of Titanic books.

Why should you read it:
If you're interested in the Titanic, this is a must read.

The House of Velvet and Glass - Book Review

The House of Velvet and Glass
by Katherine Howe

What is it about:
Still reeling from the deaths of her mother and sister on the Titanic, Sibyl Allston is living a life of quiet desperation with her taciturn father and scandal-plagued brother in an elegant town house in Boston’s Back Bay. Trapped in a world over which she has no control, Sibyl flees for solace to the parlor of a table-turning medium.

But when her brother is suddenly kicked out of Harvard under mysterious circumstances and falls under the sway of a strange young woman, Sibyl turns for help to psychology professor Benton Derby, despite the unspoken tensions of their shared past. As Benton and Sibyl work together to solve a harrowing mystery, their long-simmering spark flares to life, and they realize that there may be something even more magical between them than a medium’s scrying glass.

What did I think of it:
I will confess I picked this book up because it had to do with the Titanic.

Although the Titanic and it's sinking do play a part in this story they're just a small part though.

But I can't say I minded.

I loved this book. It's well written and engaging. Howe does a great job in setting a mood that fits the time periods in which this story takes place. The story switches between several people and back and forth in time. Following Sibyl, her brother, her father when he was a young man and there are even a few scenes set on the Titanic.

I really liked Sibyl. She's a character you can feel for and even when she lost her way I kept rooting for her. But I'll have to confess that her father was my favorite character. He's an interesting figure from the start and with every bit of extra information about him he grows more and more complex and intriguing.

The story is compelling, emotionally tense and filled with mystery. I had thought the story would mainly be about debunking mediums and about spirituality, but this story is about so much more. It's deeply philosophical without being pretentious about it. Instead Howe manages to deliver a beautiful story that gripped me and that stayed in my head long after I finished the book.

I will certainly pick up other books by Howe when I get the chance.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful story set in the early 20th century

A Winner!

The winner of my Titanic giveaway has been picked by the ever fickle random number generator:

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog!

Congrats!


Thanks to all who entered.
Keep an eye out for the next giveaway which will be in June.

Titanic Giveaway

And already we have reached day fifteen of 15 Titanic Days.
A big thank you to all who have shown interest in my posts about the Titanic and to those who have been patiently waiting for my usual posting to continue.

I want to end this series of reviews and posts about the Titanic with a giveaway.


One person will get either 'Shadow of the Titanic' or 'Distant Waves'

the rules:
Leave a comment telling me which of these two book you would want to win.
Leave a way for me to contact you
Open internationally and you don't need to be a follower to enter

The giveaway ends on April 24th and a winner will be announced soon after.

Titanic Movies

The Titanic has been the inspiration for many movies over the years.
In this post I will tell you something about three of these movies.

Saved From the Titanic
This movie is the first Titanic movie.
It opened only 29 days after the sinking and stars Dorothy Gibson, an actual survivor, and in the movie she even wore the same dress she wore on the night of the sinking. Sadly enough this movie is no longer in existence as the only known prints were destroyed in a studio fire in March 1914.


Titanic (1943)
The film was commissioned by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels during World War II. It was meant to act as propaganda to discredit American and British capitalism and to glorify the bravery and selflessness of German men. The story goes that the movie was so depressing that it was never shown in Germany itself (and it was finally even banned by Goebbels himself) , only in some of the occupied territories.

I have seen this movie and can say it's an interesting piece of propaganda. If you can get hold of a DVD of this movie it's certainly worth watching, or you can search youtube for it.


Titanic (1997 & 3D)
I'm guessing most people will know this movie.
I myself love this movie I will confess. Not because of the love story (in fact I do not care about Rose and Jack), but because of the rich detail of everything around that love story. Sure, there are some minor mistakes, but over all Cameron has done a great job in showing what the sinking of the Titanic was about: the bravery, the sacrifice, the unfair treatment of those in steerage, love. It shows us what happens when we are put to the test and what man is capable of when his life is threatened.

This week I went to see Titanic 3D, to see if the 3D element could improve on what already is a very powerful movie.
It can't.
The 3D was merely a gimmick that worked best at the start of the movie when we're shown the wreck of the Titanic. After that it lost its power to me, turning into a novelty that made me feel like I was looking at some kind of diorama at best and making me wonder why everyone was looking over the shoulder of the person they were talking to at worst. I will rewatch this movie in the near future, but without the 3D effects that distract from the actual story.


Some other movies of note:
- A Night To Remember (1958)
The Titanic disaster is depicted in straightforward fashion without the addition of fictional subplots.

- Titanic (1996)
It's got Tim Curry playing a shady character, that alone is worth watching this tv movie about the Titanic.

- Titanic (2012 miniseries)
This miniseries is being aired at the moment and having seen the first two episodes I can't wait to see the other two. It's very accurate and captures the mood of the time very well.

Shadow of the Titanic - Book Review

Shadow of the Titanic
(The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived)
By Andrew Wilson

What is it about:
In the early hous of 15 April 1912, the Atlantic Ocean was alive with the sound of screaming as 1,500 passengers of the once majestic liner Titanic struggled to stay alive in the icy waters.

The echoes of that night reverberated through the lives of each of the 705 survivors, and SHADOW OF THE TITANIC tells their extraordinary story.

Although we think we know the story of the Titanic, little has been written about what happened to the survivors after the tragedy. How did they cope? How did they remember that terrible night? Today, one hundred years after that fateful voyage, this book sheds new light on an enduringly fascinating story, seen through the eyes of those who survived.

What did I think of it:
This is both a fascinating and emotional read.

Just the introduction alone had me crying I will confess.

The chapters after that follow the lives of several survivors, telling not only about the sinking and what came after, but also telling about the lives these people had before the Titanic.

It's amazing and sad to read about how the sinking of the Titanic changed the lives of these survivors (mostly for the worst although some found strength and even love) and how even years later they still can't shake lose from this one monumental moment.

What surprised me is how turbulent the lives of most of these survivors were. As if the sinking of the Titanic is some kind of catalyst that pushes the lives of these people from the mundane into tragedy. And then there are those who would have lived turbulent lives anyway, with or without the Titanic. It's clear with these people that their character and their view on life helped them to survive the sinking.

Although this is not a happy book, it's not all grim. I must say I even had to chuckle at times, especially when reading about the rivalry between the last couple of Titanic survivors.

I will confess I love this book. As emotional as it is, it is a fascinating and interesting read, an almost bizarre view into human behavior, and it will most certainly get a place on my reread shelves.

Why should you read it:
I can advice this book to anyone who's interested in Titanic and/or in human behavior

882 1/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic - Book Review

882 1/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic
by Hugh Brewster, Laurie Coulter and Ken Marschall

What is it about:
Reissued for Spring 2012 to coincide with the anniversary of the sinking of the TITANIC in April 1912.

Here is the one book with all of the answers to your questions about the TITANIC! This is the heart-stopping story about the legendary ship--from the building,
maiden voyage, and tragic sinking, to its high-tech discovery on the ocean floor. Special features include the making of the James Cameron movie, true-or-false
quizzes, and real-life stories of the young people who sailed on the fateful journey. Illustrated with dozens of paintings, diagrams, and rare photograph.

What did I think of it:
One of the great things about this year being the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is the reissues of out of print books, so I can finally share my beloved Titanic books with others.

882 1/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic is one of those books.

This book is full of information about the Titanic, from the building of the Titanic to the aftermath of the sinking and even the discovery of the wreck.

The question-answer method in which this book is written makes it an easy read and it's clearly aimed at younger readers, but it can certainly also be enjoyed by adults.

The questions range from silly (Why was the Titanic carrying dragon's blood?) to serious (What happened once people realized there were no more boats?), making this both a fun and interesting read.

All in all this book is a treasure trove of information, with lots of illustrations and photographs. Whenever I wonder about a small detail about the Titanic this is one of the two books I grab to find the answer.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and informative book about the Titanic


Buy it here

And the Band Played On - Titanic Music

A lot has been told about the band that bravely kept on playing while the Titanic sank.
Did they really play 'Nearer, my God, to Thee'?

There are many CDs with music from that time period and songs that might have been played that fateful night, but there is one that is my absolute favorite:

'And the Band Played On' by Grupetto

Grupetto tried to reconstruct what music was played on the Titanic by reading accounts by survivors and by checking the play lists for White Star Line ships.

The list of songs they came up with is one that contains both songs people actually heard the night of the sinking and of songs that the band played in the days before the sinking. And even though it's highly unlikely the band did play 'Nearer, my God, to Thee' the song is included on the CD.

Apart from this CD being a great addition to my Titanic collection, the music itself is really good in my opinion. click the following link to listen to one of the many beautiful songs that's on the CD: Vision of Salome

When researching for this post I discovered this CD is out of print....
But fear not: I also discovered that Grupetto made a new CD that will be available this month called 'Titanic's Last Walz'.

So if you like ragtime music or if you are interested in hearing the music that was played on the Titanic, keep an eye out for 'Titanic's Last Walz'. I'll be cherishing my copy of 'And the Band Played On', because it's one of my favorite CDs.

Something's Alive on the Titanic - Book Review *

Something's Alive on the Titanic by Robert Serling

What is it about:
From the coverblurb - A band of brave men and women dare to venture where, years earlier, another salvage mission was mysteriously wiped out. ... What they find inside the legendary sunken tomb is the awesome, terrifying fact that they are not alone.

What did I think of it:
A very decent horror/thriller story where the writer actually did his research about Titanic, without it turning into a history lesson.

The story is intense, emotional and very creepy at times. I like how Serling manages to write a suspenseful horror/thriller while still showing respect for the lives lost with the sinking of the Titanic.

The characters are well written and vary from likeable to despicable and their actions fit their personality. Because this book describes two expeditions to the Titanic there are two casts of characters, both with their stronger and weaker points. The first expedition was my favorite cast of characters, but the second sure includes some interesting characters as well.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and I might pick up another book by Serling in the future.

Why should you read it:
This a great book for lovers of horror/thriller stories as well for people with an interest in Titanic.


* This review is a rewritten review (the first version was posted in 2010) and is rewritten and reposted as part of '15 Titanic Days'

Fateful - Book Review *

Fateful by Claudia Gray

What is it about:
Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It's 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they're sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He's in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it's because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously....

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec's past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

What did I think of it:
Some of you may know I'm a sucker for anything to do with Titanic, so when I read that this book was about werewolves on the Titanic I just had to read it.

Sadly enough Gray didn't use the setting to its full advantage.

This story could just as well have taken place at a completely different location. All the Titanic does is keep all characters in this story in a confined space, so they can't get away from each other. Even the sinking isn't really used as a plot device. A shame!

My disappointment over the under-use of the Titanic set aside, this is an entertaining story. The bad guy is acting like a bad guy should, Tess and Alec are a nice, cute couple, there are some interesting side characters and luckily no love triangle.

This book won't end up in my collection of Titanic books, but I just might try something different by Gray in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining YA read.




* This review was written in January 2012 and posted before on this blog.
It's reposted here as part of '15 Titanic Days'

Carpathia - DNF Rant

Carpathia
by Matt Forbeck

What is it about:
It's Titanic meets 30 Days of Night.

When the survivors of the Titanic are picked up by the passenger steamship Carpathia, they thought their problems were over.

But something's sleeping in the darkest recesses of the ship. Something old. Something hungry.

What did I think of it:
Maybe I was expecting too much from this book.

When I first heard about it I was immediately interested.
Come on: Vampires on the Carpathia!
How cool is that?!

Well....

I got too annoyed by this book to be able to finish it.

First there was the writing.
It didn't fit the time in which this story is set in my opinion.

Then there were the vampires.
Why were they on the Carpathia anyway? They could move ridiculously fast in their bat form and I wondered why they didn't just fly all night and fly-hop from ship to ship that way. Would have been faster.

Next there was the conversation the vampires were having with a human while drifting in the freezing ocean. Come on! That the vampires could form coherent sentences is one thing, but the human? No way!

And then our heroine came aboard the Carpathia and got a room all to herself.....
Even Madeleine Astor slept on the floor of the library the first day and I am to believe that little miss nobody got her own room!?

Anyway:
At that point I decided this book wasn't for me and I put it aside.

Maybe it gets really cool after that point, with lots of gruesome vampire action, but I do not care. My bloodpressure couldn't stand anymore.

A pity, because the idea of vampires on the Carpathia is a cool one.

Why should you read it:
If you don't over think things, this might be a cool read.

Distant Waves - Book review

Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn

What is it about:
Daughters of a famed clairvoyant, the five Taylor sisters begin the twentieth century desperately searching for a home. Their mother takes them to the small town of Spirit Vale, where she makes a living by talking to the dead. The future, however, is something even she cannot clearly see.

The Taylor sisters are not destined to stay in Spirit Vale for long. Mimi's fate is mingled with that of rich society, and threatened by a secret surrounding her birth. Jane becomes involved in a feat of scientific intrigue that has the potential to alter the course of history--and the course of her greatest love. The twins, Emma and Amelie, appear ready to follow in their mother's footsteps. And the youngest, Blythe, will stop at nothing to make her dreams of wealth and fame come true.

All of the sisters' destinies converge on board the Titanic. A transatlantic voyage that promises great wonders--including a surprise wedding--soon turns into a fight for survival. Not everyone will make it through...for neither love nor sisterhood can escape the threat of death.

Or can they?

What did I think of it:
Even though it takes about 21 chapters before the sisters in this story (with the subtitle A Novel Of The Titanic) finally get on the Titanic I really enjoyed this book.

Most books that use the Titanic either do not use it enough or can't stand on their own, but this is an intriguing story all of its own while also using the Titanic in a way that I could admire.

To be honest: It wasn't the Titanic that stole the show in this book. It was Tesla, the scientific genius who seems to be an influential figure for one of the sisters. I loved how Weyn portrayed Tesla and how she used him and other famous people in this story.

The writing is pleasant and I really liked Jane, the lead character. I did have less patience with some of her sisters, but all in all the whole cast of characters was enjoyable.

There were one or two factual errors that annoyed me (No: The Titan was not on its maiden voyage. Yes: Some people actually did disembark in Queenstown) and which could have been avoided with some research, but as the rest of the story was so enjoyable I was able to keep from grumbling too much.

All in all a compelling read and I will certainly give this book a place on my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:
It's an intriguing and interesting YA read

Wishlist Wednesday - Titanic Edition

Here are some books about the Titanic i hope to get my trotters on some day.


Pig on the Titanic: A True Story by Gary Crew

A pig on a passenger liner? Impossible No No It's me ... Maxixe, the music box pig 

Everyone knows the story of the night the great ship Titanic sank. But few know the story of Maxixe, one of the unsung heroes of that night, and how this small musical pig soothed the fears of a lifeboat full of children. Based on true events, this dramatic story by author Gary Crew is told through the charming and compassionate voice of Maxixe, and is brought to life by the stunning artwork of illustrator Bruce Whatley.



The Company of the Dead by David Kowalski

Can one man save the Titanic?March 1912. A mysterious man appears aboard the Titanic on its doomed voyage. His mission? To save the ship.The result? A world where the United States never entered World War I, thus launching the secret history of the 20th Century. April 2012. Joseph Kennedy - grand-nephew of John F. Kennedy - lives in an America occupied in the East by Greater Germany and on the West Coast by Imperial Japan. He is one of six people who can restore history to its rightful order -- even though it may mean his own death.


101 Things You Thought You Knew About the Titanic . . . butDidn't! by Tim Maltin, Eloise Aston

People have an endless fascination with the Titanic, yet much of what they know today is a mixture of fact and fiction. In one hundred and one brief and engaging chapters, Tim Maltin, one of the foremost experts on the Titanic, reveals the truth behind the most common beliefs about the ship and the night it sank. From physics to photographs, lawsuits to love stories, Maltin doesn't miss one tidbit surrounding its history. Heavily researched and filled with detailed descriptions, quotes from survivors, and excerpts from the official inquiries, this book is guaranteed to make readers rethink everything they thought they knew about the legendary ship and its tragic fate.

Teaser Tuesdays - Distant Waves

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"Surging rivers of gushing blood!" she cried, throwing her arms open. Her eyes were now wide as though viewing the horrors she spoke of. (page 159, Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn)

A Titanic Hero, Thomas Andrews, Shipbuilder - Book Review

A Titanic Hero, Thomas Andrews, Shipbuilder by Shan F. Bullock

What is it about:
This book tells the live story of Thomas Andrew, the man who was chief designer of the Titanic and who died during the sinking.

What did I think of it:
Ok, this book is the pride of my Titanic collection.
It's a limited edition reprint and it's probably the most expensive book I own.

That being said:
It's an interesting, although very 'colored' read. It might tell a lot about who Thomas Andrews was, it was written to honor his noble death and that shows in the text.

Still it's a book that any Titanic freak (like me) can be proud of owning. It is full of detail and small anecdotes about Thomas Andrews and it gives a face to one of the many people who died that fateful night.

It's not a book I read very often, but I can advice it to anyone who wants to learn more about Thomas Andrews.

Why should you read it:
It's an interesting and informative read

Titanic, a Survivor's Story - Book Review *

Titanic, a survivor's story by Colonel Archibald Gracie

What is it about:
'...there arose to the sky the most horrible sounds ever heard by mortal man except by those of us who survived this terrible tragedy. The agonising cries of death from over a thousand throats, the wails and groans of the suffering... none of us will ever forget to our dying day.'
Archibald Gracie was probably among the last to leave the sinking Titanic on that cold April night in 1912. his record of the terrible events remains the most vivid and accurate first-hand account of the disaster ever published.

What did I think of it:
As the title of the book already says: this book is the story of one of the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic. This alone makes this book for anyone who's interested in Titanic a must-read.
The first five chapters of the book are Colonel Gracie's story of what happened to him the last day on board of the ship and during the actual sinking and thereafter.

What makes this book really special is that Gracie also tracked down as many people as he could find who survived the sinking to collect as much information as possible about the lifeboats.
The last two chapters are a list of all the lifeboats and who were on board of them as far as he could figure that out, and some anecdotes about what happened on each lifeboat.

That he managed to get so much information is a feat in itself, but when you know he did all his information gathering in the summer of 1912 while feeling ill and that he died in december 1912 (the after-effects of his ordeal) you really have to admire his strong will.

It may be clear that I really love this book because of the richness of information and because of the personal aspect: a lot is written about Titanic, but a book about what happened written by someone who actually was there cannot be missing in any Titanic-collection.

A critical note:
Gracie was absolutely a man of his time.
It's amazing how almost every man who was on board of a lifeboat is either a sneaky foreigner or had been given personal permission to be there.

Why should you read it:
This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the sinking of the Titanic.


* This review was written in 2010 and posted before on this blog.
It's reposted here as part of '15 Titanic Days'

15 Titanic Days

The next two weeks (April 1st/April 15th) are devoted to the Titanic as this year it's a 100 years ago the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage.

Drop by for reviews, my Titanic wishlist, a giveaway and more.

Coming Up: 15 Titanic Days

This year it's a 100 years ago that the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage.

I will dedicate 15 days to the Titanic in April with reviews about books that feature the Titanic, a look at movies about Titanic and more.

Locus Focus - Titanic

Locus Focus is a meme hosted every Saturday by Enbrethiliel at Shredded Cheddar. "We all know of books that make their settings come alive, and this meme is a chance to write about them and share them with others." Visit her blog and link up!

My Locus Focus for this week is about Titanic.

There are lots of books about this steamship and it's tragic fate and I must confess I own a couple of them as the Titanic and what happened with it intrigue me.

From wikipedia:
An Olympic-class passenger liner, the Titanic was owned by the White Star Line and constructed at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland (now Northern Ireland). She set sail for New York City with 2,223 people on board; the high casualty rate when the ship sank was due in part to the fact that, although complying with the regulations of the time, the ship carried lifeboats for only 1,178 people. A disproportionate number of men died due to the women and children first protocol that was followed.

The Titanic was designed by some of the most experienced engineers, and used some of the most advanced technologies available at the time. It was a great shock to many that, despite the extensive safety features, the Titanic sank. The frenzy on the part of the media about the Titanic's famous victims, the legends about the sinking, the resulting changes to maritime law, and the discovery of the wreck have contributed to the interest in the Titanic.

What intrigues me most about the Titanic is not just the great tragedy of the sinking, but human behaviour. Reading about the sinking and the stories about how people acted fill me with wonder about human nature I can tell you. What is it that makes one man give his life so others can live, while another man thinks only of himself? What makes one person act like a hero and another like a coward?

It also makes me question myself: How would I react when faced with danger? I can only hope I never get in a situation where I'll find out the answer.